Bail for one, Tihar Jail ‘frees’ two

Unintended mistake’ in release order results in two jail inmates getting bail. The criminal, identified as Virender, 19, was released by the jail administration on a release order actually meant for his associate Deep Chand, 19. Chand was also released.

He was supposed to be locked up in Tihar Jail after being arrested with his associate in a mobile snatching case. But an alleged unintentional mistake by a district court staff resulted in the notorious criminal getting bail and turn to his old ways.

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The mistake would have gone unnoticed had the Delhi Police not arrested the criminal again in a two-wheeler theft case —just a few days after his arrest by the same police station in the mobile snatching case for which he was jailed. What shocked the police was that the jail authorities did not inform them about his release.

The criminal, identified as Virender, 19, was released by the jail administration on a release order actually meant for his associate Deep Chand, 19. Chand was also released.

The Tihar Jail administration admitted the goof-up, but said they were misled by the unintended mistake on the court document.

Virender was kept at the police station for an entire night after being caught again, but no one recognised him even though he was in the same lock-up less than 10 days back.

The police realised their mistake when the next morning when they began his verification.

“Virender was lodged in jail number 7 and was released after we received the court release order. In a letter sent to us, the court concerned admitted the mistake made by its staff while filing the release order,” said Sunil Gupta, spokesperson, Tihar jail.

This mistake was noticed on November 29 when the Geeta Colony police arrested Virender with a stolen Scooty during night patrolling.

Prabhakar, DCP (east), said, “The matter was brought into my notice. But we are not authorised to take any action since the matter is under the jurisdiction of the court concerned.”